Wrench



Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

GEORGE W.,IBRADLEY, OF AVERY, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 'IO BROSE I.

. MEDFORD, OF AVERY, TEXAS.

WRENCH.

Application filed October 30, 1922. Serial No. 597,906.

To a?! whom it may concern Be it known that GEORGE BRADLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Avery, in the county of Red River and State of Texas, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in a rench, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wrenches and its principal object is to provide a quick adjustable wrench which will. be positively locked in adjusted position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a quick adiustable wrench embodying an adjustable jaw and a pivoted rack catch normally held in engagement with the rack bar and a new and improved means for holding the rack catch in locked position.

It is another object of the invention to provide a wrench of this character which isof simple construction and can be readily operated and can be manufactured and sold at a nominal cost.

With the preceding and other objects and advantages in mind, the invention con sists in the novel combination of elements, constructions and arrangement of parts and operations to be hereinafter specifically referred to, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrench constructed in accordance with my invention.

I Figure 2 is a view taken at right angle to Figure 3 is a perspective of the locking pawls and the manner in which the same is associated with the wrench.

Figure 4 is a perspective of the pivoted connection betweenthe wrench and locking pawl.

Referring in detail to the drawing wherein corresponding characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 denotes a tubular handle formed with a yoke 6 at its upper end having a rigid jaw. The yoke 6 is provided with a longitudinal slot in its outer face.

Slidably mounted in the tubular handle 5 and the yoke 6 is a rack bar 7 terminating in a rigid jaw 8 at its upper end. Ears 9 are formed upon the outer face of the yoke 6 upon opposite sides of the slot and pivoted between these ears is a pivoted ratch catch or pawl 10 having its free end disposed in the slot and normally engaged with the rack bar. The lower end of the pivoted rack catch or pawl 10 is formed with a finger engaging extension 11 normally engaged by an expansible coil spring 12 having one end engaged with the outer face of the tubular handle 5. A. pivoted member 14 is carried by the outer face of the tubular handle 5 and the upper portion thereof'is disposed through a slot 16 in the pivoted rack catch or pawl and terminating in a head 18 to prevent the pivoted member from becoming disengaged from the slot. The underface of the pivoted rack catch or pawl is provided with a notch 19 in which F a shoulder 20 formed on the pivoted'member 14 is adapted to be received upon actuating the pivoted rack catch to disengage the same from the rack bar. A coil spring 21 having one end seated in an opening 22 in the tubular handle 5 engages the pivoted member and normally holds the same in upright position. The normal action of the spring 21 to retain the pivoted member 14 in its upright position, as shown in Fig. 1, disposes the shoulders 20 of said member in alignment below the notch 19 in the pawl or pivot catch 10 so that the latter may be forced downwardly on its pivot against the tension of the spring 12 to release the teeth thereof from the rack bar. The pawl 10 is normally in engagement with the rack bar 7 and is thrown out of engagement by pressing the finger engaging extension 11 downwardly against the tension of the spring 12. The shoulder 20 of the pivoted member 14 is adapted to act as a stop, and fits into the notch 19 of the pawl. The downward movement of the end extension 11 between the head 18 and shoulder 20 of the pivoted member is suflicient to allow the pawl to move out of engagement with the rack bar.

It will be seen that upon depressing the finger engaging extension 11 the pivoted rack catch will be disengaged from the rack bar to permit the handle to be adjusted with respect to the handle 5. Upon releasing of the finger engaging extension the pivoted rack catch will be automatically locked to the rack bar.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and efficient means for carrying out the objects of the invention, and while I have particularly described the means best adapted to perform the functions set forth, various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a wrench comprising a tubular handle, a yoke carried thereby and provided with a slot in the upper face thereof, a rack bar slidable in said handle and said yoke, a pawl pivotally carried by said handle and having its forward end receivable in said slot for engagement with said rack bar, the opposite end of said pawl having an elongated slot provided therein, a pivoted locking member carried by said handle and extending through said slot in said pawl, a shoulder extending outwardly from one of the side faces of said locking member and adapted for engagement with the rear por tion of said pawl, the aforesaid shoulder adapted to limit the movement of the end portion of said pawl to actuate said pawl out of engagement with said rack bar, and resilient means engaging said pivoted locking member for urging the same toward the rear portion of said pawl.

2. A wrench comprising a tubular handle, a yoke carried thereby and provided with slot in the upper face thereof, a rack bar slidable in said handle and said yoke, a pawl pivotally carried by said handle and having its forward end receivable in said slot for engagement with said rack bar, the o posite end of said pawl having an elongated slot provided therein, said pawl having a notch formed in the under face thereof adjacent the rear end of said pawl, a pivoted member carried by said handle and extending through said slot, the upper end of said pivoted member having lateral extensions formed thereon, shoulders formed on the opposite side faces of said pivoted member for engagement with said notcn, and a coil spring disposed between the intermediate portion of said pivoted member and the upper face of said handle, said shoulders limiting the downward movement of the aforesaid pawl, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE W. BRADLEY. 

